The Hastings Bridge Project - three years in the making - has reached an exciting and critical milestone: late today, construction crews will reroute the southbound lane of traffic on Highway 61 onto the new Hastings Bridge. Approximately 24 hours later, crews will reroute the northbound lane of traffic on Highway 61 onto the new bridge. Please note that the pedestrian walkway will not be completed until the end of the year - no pedestrians will be allowed on the bridge.

The annual inspection of the Hastings bridge was planned to take two weeks, but crews finished their work last week. There are no lane closures planned this week. The inspection had closed one lane of the bridge between 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. last week, causing long delays for travelers.

Highway 61 motorists traveling through Hastings may experience delays beginning June 8 when the roadway is reduced to a single lane between Spiral Bridge Road, near Hub's Landing, and Third Street in downtown Hastings. The lane closure will take place between 9 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 8 and again on Thursday, June 9 through Friday, June 10. A flagging crew will control traffic to allow for alternating traffic across the bridge during the closure.

The fall raptor release at Carpenter Nature Center will be held from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 25. The program is presented in partnership with The Raptor Center of the University of Minnesota. Rehabilitated birds of prey will be released at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Visitors can learn about and photograph eagles, falcons, hawks, and owls. There will be many activities for children and you may bring empty printer cartridges to recycle for the raptors.

Motorists traveling southbound Highway 61 into Hastings may experience delays overnight beginning Tuesday, Sept. 7, when the roadway is reduced to a single lane between approximately Spiral Bridge Road (the entrance to Hub's Marina) and the Hastings Highway 61 Bridge. The lane closure will take place between 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 7, and 5 a.m. Wednesday, Sept.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation told elected officials in Hastings on Wednesday afternoon they planned to reduce the speed limit on Highway 61 between the Hastings bridge and U.S. Highway 10. The current 60 mph speed limit will remain in place between The Point Restaurant and the end of the concrete barrier for southbound travelers.

A crash just north of the Highway 61 bridge claimed the life of one person Monday morning, May 3. Brian Jacobson, 34, of Lake City, died in the crash. The four-vehicle accident was reported at 6:20 a.m. near the King's Cove entrance. In addition to the fatality, two people were injured. In the latest information released by the State Patrol, the drivers of the other vehicles have been identified as Anthony L. Mancheski, 19, Maplewood; Ka Lee, 47, Newport; and Jason Brommerich, 33, Hastings.